New Nikon Set-up

<p>Hello,<br />i am looking for a new good set-up and can't see through all the different cameras there are. Please help me with it. I have used a Contax G2 so far, but want something basic, new and possibly Nikon-System within a price range up to 1000 Euros, <br>

-a possibly handy body<br />-with a 50 mm lens<br>

PS: Could I also combine a 50mm Carl Zeiss lens with a Nikon Body. If so, which on would you suggest?<br>

<br />Sincerely, Vincent</p>

<p>forgot to write: Autofocus is needed with the camera</p>

<p>autofocus only if possible, if not its fine</p>

<p>What will you be shooting, Philip?</p>

<p>mostly portraits using natural light.</p>

<p>Philip,<br>

I would strongly recommend getting one of the entry level bodies with the normal kitlens (18-55). A 50mm is not to everybody's liking as a portrait lens, and before spending money on any 50mm, I would first use the (inexpensive, good and versatile) kitlens to see if you actually like this focal length.<br>

In between the current bodies, both D3200 and D5200 are really solid choices; the D5100 as well but it may already be harder to find.</p>

<p>As for Carl Zeiss lenses on Nikon, their ZF.2 models are native Nikon lenses. But from all the tests I've seen, the 50mm Zeiss lenses are not really their crown jewels. If you insist on getting a 50mm, I'd get the AF-S 50mm f/1.8G Nikon. It also has the advantage of having autofocus on all Nikon DSLRs. But for portrait work, I'd much prefer a longer lens than 50mm, so I'd really seriously hold off getting a 50mm lens until you're sure it is the focal length you like.</p>

<p>hello, thank you very much so far. I will definitely use a 50 mm and want to use an analog film-camera. The question is only which one? I am also thinking about choosing an analog camera with autofocus. which could you suggest here additionally? </p>

<p>If you want a nice film camera with good autofocus, I suggest the Nikon F100. You are aware that the Zeiss lenses will be MANUAL focus only on ANY Nikon cameras? The best 50mm lens to put on a Nikon camera is now the Sigma 50mm f1.4. It will autofocus on all Nikon cameras made since about 1990, including all digital cameras.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>ok, thanks. are there very good nikon lenses you know?</p>

<p>At 50mm you can't go wrong with Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S. This is a steal for the money. For manual focus some more money are required for two great lenses on the used market:<br>

Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AI(S)<br>

Nikon 55mm f/1.2 AI(S)<br>

Basically all 50's produced by Nikon are good.<br>

I also consider F100 the best option for film if you do not need a camera like a brick.</p>

 

<p>Best Nikon lenses are 14-24mm f2.8, 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, 70-200mm f4. Best single focal lenses for Nikon are Nikon 24mm f1.4, Sigma 35mm f1.4, Sigma 50mm f1.4, Sigma 85mm f1.4. All of these will autofocus with any Nikon camera made since the 1990s.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>Philip (or Vincent), if by using Zeiss lenses, you mean can you use the G2's lenses on a Nikon film body, then the answer is a definite no. The register of the G2 is a lot shorter than Nikon's and you wouldn't be able to focus the lenses to infinity.</p>

<p>Can I just point out that the OP requested a recommendation for a <strong>new</strong> camera. The F100 is no longer in production and a used one will be at least 6 years old. AFAIK the only <a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Film-Cameras/index.page">Nikon AF film body available new </a>is the F6, which isn't basic and also isn't within the stated budget. The only other film body available <em>new</em> from Nikon is the FM10; a manual focus and manual exposure only camera. It appears that Nikon - quite rightly IMO - see 35mm size film as pretty much an end-of-life product with limited market appeal.</p>

<p>Having said that, if you want to stick with grain-stricken 35mm film to its bitter end, then you probably won't see much advantage in using the latest high performance (and high cost) lenses over older AF or AF-D versions.</p>

<p>Kent, there was a budget mentioned in the OP. The list of zooms you mention does not contain a single lens that costs less than the budget mentioned. Likewise for most of the primes mentioned. What use is the "best of" list like that?</p>

<p>Philip, sorry, I silently assumed you wanted digital instead.Maybe I misunderstood, or maybe I didn't? Could you please be more specific to what you're really looking for?<br>

For film: F100 if you really want AF; F80 or F90 if you want to spend less. For a 50mm, I'd really get a AF-S 50mm f/1.8G as it costs relatively little, delivers really good results and it's light. I also have the AiS 50mm f/1.2, and while I like it better, at twice the cost of the f/1.8G it always leaves me wondering whether it is really worth the money.<br /> If you want to do portraits, and don't mind manual focus, the 105mm f/2.5 Nikkors are fabulous portrait lenses, and they can be found for relatively little money.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Philip, sorry, I silently assumed you wanted digital instead.Maybe I misunderstood, or maybe I didn't? Could you please be more specific to what you're really looking for?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Wouter, as recently as a day or two ago, Philip/Vincent was asking about digital SLRs: <a href="/beginner-photography-questions-forum/00bz4n">http://www.photo.net/beginner-photography-questions-forum/00bz4n</a><br>

In fact, you (Wouter) posted an answer to that other thread.</p>

<p>It's friday afternoon here... my brain's upside down in my head :-)</p>

<p>RJ--</p>

<p>The vintage look from film cameras is precisely why I've returned to shooting historical cameras. Everyone is shooting digital now, and the shots all look pretty much the same. Since the OP is actively using a G2, there's no reason to think he's bothered by grain. Probably the most cost effective way to get a good digital camera and an excellent 50mm would be to get a used D7000 and a Sigma 50mm f1.4. The D7000 (or a D90 even) would have the dual controls that the D3000-series and D5000-series do not. As for Zeiss/Contax lenses, the lenses OP uses on his G2 could be used with an adapter on a micro 4/3 camera such as from Olympus etc. All in all, that may be his best bet depending on exactly what he's after. He would likely have to add a wide angle lens such as a CV Heliar 15mm (to make up for the crop factor.) On the plus side, he could use his existing 50mm.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>Nikon 55mm f/1.2 AI(S) is a great lense?</p>

<p>Nikon 55mm f/1.2 AI(S) is a great lense?</p>

<p>Mag, I don't think a 55mm f/1.2 was ever made in AIS. I've used a pre-AI one. It's a nice lens, wide open it's not so hot.</p>

<p>Philip, my favorite Nikon AF film camera is the F100. Mind you, it's bigger than your G2. (All autofocus interchangeable lens Nikons are.) If you wanted small, F75 (AKA N75) - but that's not in the same class, in build quality terms, as what you're used to. Put the 50mm f/1.8G lens on the F100 and you have a very capable combo.</p>

<p>If you wanted manual focus I'd tell you to combine an FM2n or FE2 with a Nikon 50mm AIS lens (any of them, really) or a Zeiss 50mm or Voightlander 40mm or 58mm in Nikon AI or AIS mount. You can't go wrong with any of those.</p>

<p>Kent, I was 'having a go' at 35mm size film only. Don't you nearly always use larger formats? I'm not averse to using 4x5 myself, or even 120 rollfilm if the subject demands. However I'm still not sure I agree that film is the only way to get 'the vintage look' - there ain't much you can't do with an image processor.</p>

<p>I still think that modern high-res lenses are a bit wasted on film. Unless you're going to do silly things like expose Technical Pan at 10 ISO and pamper it with special processing. And even then it's touch-and-go whether the tonal range will turn out the way you wanted. As for dusting off and retouching 35mm - Yechhh! Good riddance to that chore.</p>

<p>I should have made this clearer. I do not neccessarily need a new (new in production) model. I can also be an older one, but it definitely has to be:<br>

-analog film (maybe auto focus<br>

-high quality 50 mm lens (maybe autofocus)<br>

please review my question, excuse for not making it clearer earlier.</p>

<p>Camera Body: F100. It uses both manual lenses and the latest Nikon autofocus lenses including VR lenses. KEH is selling the body in Excellent condition for about $200.</p>

<p>Lens: I use the 50mm f/1.4D and am very happy with it. KEH sell it for about $275 in Like New- condition.</p>

<p>For under $500 you would have an outstanding film set up - well less than your 1000 Euro limit.</p>

<p>You did not ask, but for flash the SB-28 or SB-80 and F100 are "magic". The F100 can use any Nikon flash from the SB-28 through the SB800; the latest SB900 series flashes do not work in TTL mode with the F100.</p>

 

<p>thank you 'Brooks', I would add though to the characteristics of the camera I look for, that it should be if possible relativly smaller.</p>

<p>I like the F100 too. It's not perfect, but it probably meets your needs quite well.</p>

<p>I like the newer 50mm f/1.8 AFS lens over the older D lens. I haven't tried the f/1.4 D or AFS versions.</p>

<p>If I had the extra cash I would look at getting an F6. They are now down to around where you could get one and a 50mm f/1.8 AF-D for your budget. My use would be mainly to mirror lockup, which the F100 is missing. It's mirror is low vibration, but I still think it impacts the image sharpness at times. Also a 100% viewfinder is nice when the film size is as small as 35mm. I hear the F6 also has much better AF and a wider selection of manual focus screens.</p>

<p><br /> as a part of my studies-programm I am doing personal research on a possible choice for a coming project (inside with window-light). After further looking and your resent posts,<br />I think there are some good choices, but I am still not really sure if its definite.<br />It basically comes down to the following three questions,<br />(within a budget of less than 1000 Euros or if it has to be also a little more),<br /> which are the two Nikon cameras , which are<br /> -with automatic exposure, manual focus<br />or<br />-autofocus<br /> and<br /> -which is the one perfect 50 mm lens to use with the named above?<br /> if you don't mind and because its much easier to read, just state the camera(s) and lens.<br /> thanks very much for your help.</p>